After much discussion and talking to the current owner and the previous owner John who had it for over 20 years I decided it was a car I could take on as a rolling project and enjoy driving it as much as I enjoy working on it.
Here she is in my driveway.
Love the car.
Many many things on the TO-DO list. The biggest of which is to get the interior up to snuff. Will be ordering a deluxe master kit from datsunparts.com soon enough.
This is my first Convertible. I know the early Z cars very well. So I figured much will translate. I have many questions about basic roadster functions I will start a thread on soon enough. I must remember to drive it and enjoy it and do not get impatient to try to fix everything at once.
Initial impressions from a guy who never drove a datsun roadster in his life yet bought one sight unseen off EBAY!!!
1) Solidity. I cannot get over how rigid the chassis feels.
2) 5 speed is bliss. I would do next to anything to have that gearbox in my Z.
3) interior is a jigsaw puzzle of parts. The aluminum on the doors look caved in, not sure if that is normal. I need to look at more pics, but the design is very nice. I will need a new dash, as mine is cracked.
4) THe steering is nicely weighted and is very responsive
5) Brakes on my Z are very much more powerful than on the roadster.
6) seating position is very good, as is pedal placement.
7) Even with upgraded bushigns, sways and shocks and springs, the ride is very very good.
My goal with this car is to vintage rallies. I took the Z on the TEXAS 1000 put on by http://www.vintagerallies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and it was the best automotive experience of my life. The Roadster is slated to go on the rally in 2015 if I can satisfy myself she is ready. (I am extremely picky)
Overall I cannot stop staring at her. I see her flaws, the paint cracks here and there, but nothing jumps out as anything that needs attention in the next 5 years. I can just wax, fix things as I go and drive her as much as possible.
Maybe it is the fact that she is my first convertible I have ever driven, maybe it is the Datsun DNA I love so much, maybe it is the fact that a 2000 roadster is just that good a car, but the smile is permanently attached to my face. It took me 6 years to get my Z to a place where it is turn key perfect. I think I have a project here that will be ready a LOT sooner.
What a sublimely beautiful little car.
I am so happy to be a member here and look forward to meeting more of you
